I keep hearing The Caribbean's music described as "Avant-garde" or maybe "Avant-Pop." Certainly, the title seems to fit the music on a lot of levels. There are raspy vocals recounting narratives that don't quite go anywhere in that very postmodern kind of way, there are uncommon chord changes that can remind you of late 20th century orchestral music, there are drones and echoes and backwards guitars played and recorded on a mixture of modern and vintage equipment. But, to my ears, something about that "Avant-garde" label just doesn't seem to quite fit. 

The term usually carries an implied context that what you are about to hear was written only for the enjoyment of other musicians, or at least for a well-trained ear. When I first heard The Caribbean's music, that was not my impression at all. Instead, I found it relaxing and casually familiar in a way that makes me want to make a mix tape for a mid-summer evening on the beach. 

Certainly, if you take the time to really listen to their music, you will find layers and layers of complexity -  musically, lyrically and emotionally. But, The Caribbean has managed to produce music that both the thinking man's musician and the casual music lover can appreciate together.

The band's fifth album, Discontinued Perfume, is scheduled to be released by Hometapes on February 22. They've released their first single from the album, "Mr. Let's Find Out," as a free download. The song was inspired by Leonard Bernstein. Or rather, by a New Yorker article on Leonard Berstein. Or rather, by the way that article made The Caribbean feel when they reflected on it. I know, I know. We're slipping back into Avant-garde territory. But, don't fret about it. Just relax, listen and pretend that winter is already over.

P.S. If the single teaser track isn't enough for you, The Caribbean has also released a free-to-download 12 song, 8 year retrospective here. 

-Jarrett

The Caribbean - Mr. Let's Find Out

Here at The Deli we take winter seriously. Our frostiest cover ever graces our 25th NYC issue (check it out in pdf version here), which was coincidentally delivered yesterday throughout a frosty Big Apple, covered in snow. Psych Folk songstress Lia Ices - who is celebrating her CD release party at Joe's Pub on February 1st - and the gorgeous foggy picture shot by Kate Edwards add two extra wintry elements to the package. In this issue you will also find features about NYC Indie Labels, Delicate Steve, Appmoattox, and - of course - a slew of Q&As and reviews. Enjoy!

It was a tight race for our first Emerging Artists Poll this year, coming down to a tie for 3rd. Here's a little more about the radical bands chosen by our jury and the fans.

1.DELETED SCENES

Voted to the absolute top of the chart is DC's pop post-rock band Deleted Scenes, who've been playing gigs up and down the east coast year round in support of their 2009 debut LP Birdseed Shirt. As seen in the fan-made video above for "Fake IDs" off the debut, Deleted Scenes create intricate compositions that build up to raucous levels of emotional awesomeness, and then a couple tracks later, as heard in "Got God", they show their southern bar-friendly 'Americana' side with a touch of piano, slide guitar, and hand claps. The release has gotten major good words from the press, and one of our fav lines comes from the DCist: "Birdseed Shirt is a fantastic debut and it reinforces what we've been saying all along. It's shocking that this band isn't huge." Deleted Scenes will be playing live at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Feb 12.

2.THE TENNIS SYSTEM

DC’s shoegaze noise lords the Tennis System nearly dominated the chart, and with a wide spectrum of releases and shows coming up, 2011 will again be another good year for them. They’ve got a new single about to come out called “Hey, We Tried”; a show at the Black Cat on 1/27 (worth the trip through the snowy mess, for sure!); they’ve been invited to play at the 2011 Canadian Music Festival, and are finishing up their next release Teenagers, due out soon! Check out a past review of one of their gigs here.

3.KING GIANT (tied)

Representing NoVa on the list of winners is Arlington based southern/stoner metal band King Giant, who’ve recently self-released their first LP Southern Darkness. Check out the video above for “13 to 1” a track off that album and soak up dark and heavy hooks that made Heavy Planet say, “if Johnny Cash rose from the grave and started a metal band, this is what it might sound like… this is music meant to exorcize demons.” King Giant will be playing live at the State Theatre on 1/29.

3. DEEP RIVER (tied)

Tied for the same spot as KG, is pop folk act Deep River, based out of Northern Virginia, who’ve recently released their debut album Ten Mornings. And actually, they’ve described their sound as “Front Porch Pop” and Deli writer Jarrett had some more to say about them here. If you happen to be in the Leesburg area this weekend, check them out as they have a gig at the Exeter House on 1/29.

Washington DC and Baltimore readers,

After some serious number churning and link pasting we are finally able to give you the results of our Best of Washington/Baltimore Emerging Artists 2010 poll. This chart is the result of a combined vote involving local scene makers (i.e. our jury, listed here), Deli writers and music fans (fans poll results here).

If you wonder how all this works you can try to figure it out here (2 and 1/2 words of warning: it's complicated!).



Congrats to Deleted Scenes (in the picture), winners of our combined chart - and to all the bands who made the list!

Artist J OS W F TOTAL   1 Deleted Scenes 8     0.027 8.027 2 The Tennis System 4   1 0.008 5.008 3 Deep River 3   1 0.5 4.5   King Giant 3     1.5 4.5 5 US Royalty 3   1 0.029 4.029 6 The Chance 3 1   0.019 4.019 7 Screen Vinyl Image 4     0 4 8 Thee Lexington Arrows 3 0.75   0.001 3.751 9 The Silver Liners 0.5     3 3.5 10 Imperial China 3     0.019 3.019 11 Cotton Jones 3     0.003 3.003 12 Caverns 3     0.002 3.002   True Womanhood 3     0.002 3.002 14 BlueBrain 3     0.001 3.001   Maybe, Baby 3     0.001 3.001   Rattler 3     0.001 3.001 17 Dope Body 3     0 3   Loving the Lie 3     0 3   Suns of Guns 3     0 3   Caustic Casanova 1     2 3 21 Lions & Tigers & Whales 2     0.003 2.003 22 J Roddy Walston and the Business 2     0.001 2.001   Salome 2     0.001 2.001 24 David Correy 2     0 2   Justin Jones and the Driving... 2     0 2   Painted Face 2     0 2   Title Tracks 2     0 2   The Downtown Fiction 2     0 2 29 The Furries 2     0 2 30 The Shirks 2     0 2 31 Triac 2     0 2 32 Kentavius Jones 1     1 2 33 The Quarantines 1     0.028 1.028 34 Beasts of No Nation 1     0.008 1.008 35 Lower Dens 1     0.006 1.006 36 Animals as Leaders 1     0.003 1.003   Body Cop 1     0.003 1.003 38 Beautiful Swimmers 1     0.002 1.002   The Dialouge 1     0.002 1.002 40 Atari Blitzkrieg 1     0.001 1.001 41 Chelsea Lee 1     0 1   Lotus Fucker 1     0 1   Matt Hemerlein 1     0 1 44 Ally Way   0.75   0.002 0.752   Cobra Collective   0.75   0.002 0.752 46 The Last Monarchs   0.75   0.001 0.751 Legend: J = Jury - OS = Open Submissions - W = Deli Writers - F = Fans

The Deli's Staff

Congrats to The Silver Liners (pictured), who won The Deli's Best of Washington/Baltimore Emerging Aritsts Fans' Poll 2010, followed by Caustic Casanova and King Giant. The full results of the fans' poll can be found here. We'll soon publish also the results of the composite chart including the jurors' and Deli writers' votes - stay tuned! (photo © Jeff Johns, 2010)